UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, June 23, 2022

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani to EU leaders: This has just gone too far, my citizens feel discriminated (media)
Osmani meets with EU leaders (RTK)
Metsola: Visa liberalization for Kosovo must happen (Kallxo)
Kajari: Kosovo-Serbia agreement brings stability to region (Klan)
The Dutch Parliament votes in favor of abolishing visas for Kosovo (media)
Osmani: No country can follow both Russia’s and EU’s path (Reporteri)

Serbian Language Media:

EU-Western Balkans summit in Brussels ends (NMagazin, Beta)
Vucic: We believe in the European future of Serbia and the region (RTS, Tanjug)
Nehammer: No double standards in the accession process (Tanjug)
Dzaferovic asked Michel to support BiH's candidacy (RTS, N1)
Michel: The Western Balkans is an EU priority (RTS, Tanjug)
Borrell: Consensus problem, good thing there is progress in the dialogue (Tanjug)
Scholz: Western Balkans need ‘realistic opportunity’ for EU membership (Hina, N1)
Rama: Shameful "kidnapping" of two countries on the way to the EU (RTS)
Petkov: Solution should be found in Bulgarian parliament (RTS, Tanjug)
Varhelyi: The time for responsible decisions, Western Balkans to be part of the EU (RTS)
The main topics of the summit in Brussels (RTS)
“Who is switching off the lights in the north” protest in Mitrovica North tomorrow (Kontakt plus radio)
Lazarevic: Citizens from the North disappointed with the agreement - new confirmation of Serbia’s withdrawal (KoSSev, N1)

International:

EU will 'stand by its promises' on Western Balkans enlargement (DW)
Western Balkans leaders will attend EU summit, dropping boycott threats (Politico)
Bulgarian government ousted in blow to EU enlargement hopes (Financial Times)

Albanian Language Media

Osmani to EU leaders: This has just gone too far, my citizens feel discriminated (media)

The President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani said during her speech at the EU Summit that if anyone thinks that lasting peace and stability in Europe is possible without the Western Balkans integrated into Euro-Atlantic structures, that this is not Possible.

“I did not come here for empty political statements, but with the best intentions to talk about the consequences for our entire continent if the integration of the Western Balkans would be further delayed. I want to speak again here about the tremendous importance of visa liberalization, in the hope that this time indeed, you will hear us.

This has just gone too far. My citizens feel discriminated against, despite being the most pro-European people and meeting all the criteria of 4 years. They remain isolated in the heart of the continent where they live.

The irony is that we are here as equal members of the international community, discussing the European agenda, but of course I sit among you here today as the only person - the only person - at this table who needs to get a visa to attend at this summit,” Osmani said among other.

Read her full statement here: https://bit.ly/39LBH6R

Osmani meets with EU leaders (RTK)

The President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani is participating in the summit between the EU and the Western Balkans that is being held in Brussels.

Prior to the official start of work on the summit, she had a meeting with the President of France, Emanuel Macron.

She posted the picture of her meeting in the sidelines of the Summit on her Facebook account, with a caption "Shortly before the summit, with President Macron."

Osmani, during the ongoing works at the European Union Summit with the countries of the Western Balkans, also met with the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, for whom she expressed gratitude on behalf of the people of Kosovo for their continuous support.

“With Bundeskanzler Scholz, who has been an unwavering supporter of the Republic of Kosovo and our firm European perspective. On behalf of the people of Kosovo, thank you,” Osmani wrote.

Metsola: Visa liberalization for Kosovo must happen (Kallxo)

The President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola said before the start of the European Union Summit, that today is a historic day, while adding that visa liberalization for Kosovo must happen. "Enlargement has always been seen as a transformative process for countries that see Europe as their home and I think today is the day when we should start negotiations with Northern Macedonia and Albania and we should really start talking about granting visa liberalization to Kosovo," Mestola said.

Kajari: Kosovo-Serbia agreement brings stability to region (Klan)

KFOR Commander Ferenc Kajari said in an interview for KlanKosova.tv that regional security depends on the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.

"This is the right moment to take important steps forward in the EU-mediated dialogue, aimed at normalizing relations between Belgrade and Pristina. This is the only way to reach a lasting political agreement and it is the key to stability in the whole region, despite Russia's war against Ukraine," he said, adding that the decision on Kosovo's membership or not is in the hands of The North Atlantic Council, which operates within NATO.

KFOR Commander further, also spoke about the Kosovo Security Force and a point that prevents it from going to the north without KFOR’s approval.

"NATO expects local authorities to continue to honor existing commitments to send the KSF," he said when asked if anything could change during his tenure.

Kajari said that cooperation with Kosovo institutions is excellent and that he maintains close relationships with a wide range of interlocutors, including representatives of Kosovo institutions, the Kosovo Security Force and the Kosovo Police.

He also added that “NATO fully respects the policy stated by Serbia on military neutrality. KFOR maintains strong relations with the Serbian Armed Forces, including my regular meetings with the Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces and through synchronized patrols along the administrative border line.”

The Dutch Parliament votes in favor of abolishing visas for Kosovo (media)

Out of 150 MPs of the Dutch Parliament, who took part in the voting, 100 voted in favor of the motion of the MP Kati Piri, with which she demanded visa liberalization for Kosovo. Meanwhile, 47 were against and three MPs abstained.

Piri said that it is good news that this is finally happening in the Netherlands, since her country has held a blocking position.

Osmani: No country can follow both Russia’s and the EU’s path (Reporteri)

President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani told the international media in Brussels that no country can follow in the European Union while following Russia’s path.

"The will of Kosovars for Euro-Atlantic integration overcomes everything. We have never looked elsewhere. This is the only alternative we have worked for; we will continue to work. Our passions will not fade; therefore, I believe that all European Union countries deserve to be here to express their views and the voice of their people. "

“Of course, those who are determined to walk the path of the European Union, they must go ahead, those who believe they can walk the path of Moscow, the path of Putin, as much as the path of the EU, do not deserve to be on the road to the EU because you cannot walk on two roads at once," Osmani said.

Osmani said that Serbia has not imposed sanctions on Russia and that they are letting Russia's influence in the Western Balkans region, which according to her is very harmful.

Serbian Language Media

EU-Western Balkans summit in Brussels ends (NMagazin, Beta)

The summit of the European Union and the Western Balkans ended today in Brussels, much later than planned, reported NMagazin portal.

The portal reported that the meeting lasted almost four hours, although it was planned to last two hours.

The press conference after the summit, at which the leaders of the European Union were supposed to address, was cancelled.

The leaders of Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia, Aleksandar Vucic, Edi Rama, and Dimitar Kovacevski, should address the joint press conference, but the time of its beginning has not been confirmed yet.

The summit of the European Council, which is attended by EU leaders and the heads of state or government of its member states, starts this afternoon in Brussels. The arrival of the participants was announced at 2.15 pm, recalled NMagazin.

Vucic: I believe in the European future of Serbia and the region (RTS, Tanjug)

President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic briefly met President of France Emmanuel Macron before the EU-Western Balkans leaders meeting, reported RTS.

"A cordial and friendly meeting with French President Emanuel Macron before the start of the summit in Brussels," Vucic announced on Instagram, along with a photo with Macron.

Vucic said prior to the summit that he was in Brussels to discuss the European future of the region, and that he believed that there would be good conclusions for the Western Balkans.

Answering questions from foreign journalists, Vucic explained that he had discussed the issue of relations between North Macedonia and Bulgaria with the prime ministers of Northern Macedonia and Albania before the decision to arrive in Brussels, since some EU countries want to block talks with Skopje and Tirana, reported RTS.

"That was the reason, and we talked about it. But we are here, we are here to talk about the European future, and we believe that there will be good conclusions for the Western Balkans," Vucic said, adding that it would be good if they were reached, and if not, he says, ''we are certainly grateful to the Union for investments and donations''.

We will do everything to save ourselves, Vucic added.

When asked about Ukraine, Vucic said that Serbia had already voted against Russian aggression against Ukraine in the UN General Assembly and that it supported the territorial integrity of Ukraine, just as it supported the territorial integrity of Serbia, which was not the case with the majority of EU countries.

He added that it is a very complicated issue, and that there is no doubt that it will be discussed in Brussels today. "We respect ourselves, at least we think we respect ourselves a little more than some others," Vucic said.

When asked about Slovenia's proposal to grant BiH candidate status, Vucic said that he was always in favour of the progress of all Balkan countries on the EU path.

"Serbia sitting on its chair"

When asked by the media from the region whether he expects criticism in Brussels for not imposing sanctions on Russia, Vucic said that he had a ready response to those criticisms and said that Serbia was sitting on its chair.

When asked to comment on the fact that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said earlier that he expected Serbia to recognize Kosovo, Vucic answered briefly: "I told him also that we do not expect that", reported RTS.

RTS reported Vucic saying that he did not expect ''nothing'' from today's meeting, answering reporters’ questions on what his expectations were. On a question whether he was afraid of coming to Brussels, he said that the times when someone can blackmail free and independent states with pressure were over.

"We came here to a friend. I believe in the European future of Serbia and the Western Balkans. We will fight together on that path, respecting ourselves and believing that together we can do a lot. That we are scared and small, and that some are big - leave it to someone else, these are stories for small children," Vucic said.

"We want to rapidly develop friendly and fraternal relations. I believe that we will be together on the European and all other paths," Vucic emphasized.

He said that he had talked with North Macedonia Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski this morning, and when asked what he thought about the bilateralization of the negotiation process, he pointed out that it had been done to Serbia with Pristina, by giving it Chapter 35.

"I cannot say that Kovacevski is happy. We will see what will happen," Vucic added.

Nehammer: No double standards in the accession process (Tanjug)

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said before the EU-Western Balkans Summit that Austria supports the region's progress in the accession process and that there should be no double criteria in that process, reported Tanjug agency.

''We must not have double criteria and first or second class candidates. We must ensure that the same criteria are applied as in other Western Balkan countries seeking candidate status. It would not be imaginable for me that Ukraine receives a candidate status, and at the same time to keep countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina out of it. We must not provoke false expectations in Ukraine either, because the enlargement process is complex and time-consuming," Nehammer warned.

In a message from Brussels delivered to Tanjug from the chancellor's office, Nehammer said that Vienna has a special responsibility for the Western Balkans.

"Our security and stability are linked to the Western Balkans. Austria also has strong economic ties with the Western Balkans, which provides tens of thousands of jobs in Austria," Nehammer said.

Dzaferovic asked Michel to support BiH's candidacy (RTS, N1)

On the eve of the beginning of the EU-Western Balkans summit, the Chairman of the Presidency of BiH, Sefik Dzaferovic, met with the Head of the European Council, Charles Michel, with whom he discussed the European perspective of BiH.

Ahead of the summit, Dzaferovic said that he had asked Michel to support the granting of BiH candidate status at the European Council session.

"If the European Council grants candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, then Bosnia and Herzegovina should also receive this status. I asked President Michel to support the candidate status for BiH at the European Council session," Dzaferovic said.

N1 reported that Germany, France, and the Netherlands oppose candidate status for BiH.

The broadcaster reported that BiH has not done anything in the past to get closer to the EU adding that this message is getting louder. As N1 learns from diplomatic circles in Brussels, despite Slovenia's initiative, which was also supported by Hungary, Croatia and Poland, France, Germany, and the Netherlands are against granting candidate status for BiH.

Michel: The Western Balkans is an EU priority (RTS, Tanjug)

EU and Western Balkans leaders began a meeting in Brussels at around 10 a.m. to discuss ways to strengthen the region's EU integration.

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, pointed out before the EU Summit that the Union is facing a decisive moment, geopolitically important, since decisions will be made in favour of stability and prosperity.

He expressed confidence that a decision on the status of candidates for Ukraine and Moldova will be made at the EU Summit, as well as a clear European perspective for those two countries and Georgia.

Michel told reporters that currently there is a problem in Bulgaria and that there are attempts to put proposals on the table so accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania could start as soon as possible.

"It is our main priority now and we will do everything to make progress in that," Michel told reporters.

He also said that all the efforts that BiH has undertaken on the road to the EU have had positive effects on reducing tensions, and that the EU will do everything to make the country's institutions functional.

Michel said that the summit was of geopolitical importance because decisions in favor of stability and prosperity will be made, emphasizing that Western Balkans was a priority, and that there was a commitment to bring new energy into the integration process, reported RTS.

The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, stated that the process of enlargement of the European Union was important and should be seen as a way for the EU to establish its geopolitical security situation to prevent malignant influence of third countries with different interests.

Borrell: Consensus problem, good thing there is progress in the dialogue (Tanjug)

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of progress in Bulgaria regarding the opening of accession talks between Northern Macedonia and Albania, and said it showed that consensus was not a good solution for EU decision-making, reported agency Tanjug.

"This case shows once again that the problem is consensus in decision-making. We cannot continue because one country is blocking. Today is not a good day, because we should have started the accession process for two countries, but we cannot, because one country is blocking the entire process. We have to consider our methods of work, "Borrell underlined.

Borrell pointed out that, however, he has one good news, and that is the progress in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina regarding energy.

"It is a very important step forward, and we will continue to work further. It is possible that we will have a meeting at the highest level by the end of the month," he said.

He stressed that the EU must do everything to make the Western Balkans part of its world.

He says that this will be done by inviting the countries of the region to participate in the meetings of EU foreign ministers and other gatherings.

"We must continue to prevent the European flame from being extinguished in the Western Balkans," Borrell said.

Scholz: Western Balkans need ‘realistic opportunity’ for EU membership (Hina, N1)

Germany wants the Western Balkan countries to be given a "realistic opportunity" to join the European Union, Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters in Brussels ahead of a meeting of EU and Western Balkan leaders, reported N1, citing Croatian news agency Hina.

“The citizens in the Western Balkans have been waiting for almost 20 years for the opportunity to become members of the European Union. It is of utmost importance that this becomes a credible promise because the many efforts that these countries have undertaken must in the end lead to their admission,” Scholz said.

The EU leaders are meeting their Western Balkan counterparts before their regular summit, which is expected to adopt a historic decision to grant membership candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova.

The EU leaders are expected to again express their full and unequivocal commitment to membership prospects for the Western Balkan countries and call on them to speed up the accession process.

“Three EU member states have asked that Bosnia and Herzegovina also be granted candidate status, but there is no consensus on the matter, according to a high-level EU official knowledgeable about the preparation of the summit,” state agency Hina said.

One of the toughest issues facing the summit is efforts to remove Bulgaria’s blockade of the opening of accession talks with North Macedonia. The Bulgarian government received a vote of no confidence on Wednesday, and there are indications that Sofia is willing to remove the blockade based on a French proposal.

“However, the question is whether North Macedonia will agree to it,” Hina opined.

The French EU presidency has proposed a negotiating framework for North Macedonia that includes some of the Bulgarian demands. Bulgaria has set as a condition for the removal of the blockade that the negotiating framework include “issues relating to the common history, language and national identity of Bulgaria and North Macedonia,” Hina said.

Rama: Shameful "kidnapping" of two countries on the way to the EU (RTS)

After arriving at the EU Summit, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said that it was a shame that one NATO country, Bulgaria, had "kidnapped" two other members, North Macedonia, and Albania, on their European path and at a time when a hot war is raging in the European hinterland, and 26 countries are sitting peacefully, showing their helplessness, reported RTS.

Rama told reporters that this is a new day in Europe, but not in Bulgaria.

He pointed out that Albania knows that there is always some Bulgaria on the European path, but that it will not change its course, that it will continue to build Europe in its home.

"Open Balkan" is a realistic answer to the situation in which we are continuing the path of integration because we have no alternative, Rama added.

Asked whether "Kosovo should join the 'Open Balkans'", Rama replied that the initiative was open to all.

According to him, Albania is doing its part, implementing reforms and will continue not only because Brussels is asking for it, but "because our children are asking us to."

Asked whether he supports the status of a candidate for Ukraine, Rama reminded that North Macedonia has been a candidate for 17 years, Albania for eight, and that Ukrainians should not have many illusions.

Petkov: Solution should be found in Bulgarian parliament (RTS, Tanjug)

Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, whose government was given a vote of no confidence in parliament yesterday, stressed that a solution to the North Macedonia problem must be found in the Bulgarian parliament, and accused the opposition of blocking it, reported Tanjug agency.

"A solution should be sought in the Bulgarian parliament, because the assembly is the institution that best represents the citizens," Petkov said ahead of today's EU-Western Balkans summit in Brussels.

He accused former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, the leader of the opposition, of being most responsible for the situation.

"He tells you in the morning that he will support the opening of accession negotiations with North Macedonia, which is a great thing, and then block the parliament in the afternoon. He has pursued such a policy in recent years," Petkov criticized his predecessor.

Varhelyi: The time for responsible decisions, Western Balkans to be part of the EU (RTS)

On the eve of the EU-Western Balkans summit, EU High Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi said that now is the time to make responsible decisions and stressed that the Western Balkans should be part of the EU, cited RTS.

"The EU takes all Bulgarian concerns seriously and they are now part of the negotiation process. Now is the time for responsible decisions. The Western Balkans should be part of the European Union. Together we will be stronger," Varhelyi said on Twitter.

He called on the Bulgarian parliament to put to the vote a proposal to open negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania.

"Opposition GERB Boyko Borisov has already shown leadership by emphasizing such a proposal. Everyone should do the same. The EU must get moving," Varhelyi said.

The main topics of the summit in Brussels (RTS)

Proposals for a new enlargement policy, which means faster, phased integration of the Western Balkans into the EU and the opening of accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania, will be the main topics of the EU-Western Balkans leaders' meeting in Brussels on June 23rd, reported Serbia's national broadcaster RTS.

After discussions with regional leaders, EU heads of state and government will begin a separate two-day summit in the second half of the day, focusing on the decision to grant candidate status to Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia and plans to create a European political community.

"The EU supports the membership perspective for the countries of the Western Balkans and calls for speeding up the accession process," reads the draft conclusions of the EU leader, which RTS had insight into.

The EU leaders called on the European Commission, the High Representative, and the EU Council to "develop and advance the idea of the region's gradual integration into the EU during the enlargement process itself, in a reversible merit-based way".

Ahead of the summit, European Council President Charles Michel made a proposal for reform of enlargement policy, stating that partners in the Western Balkans should be offered social and economic benefits already during the membership negotiation process, instead of waiting for their end.

Austria supported this proposal in its "non-paper", as well as many experts from the EU and the region, recalled RTS.

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, and the Prime Ministers of Albania and North Macedonia, Edi Rama, and Dimitar Kovacevski, made a joint decision to participate in the summit in Brussels.

The EU official involved in the preparation of the summit says that coming to the talks in Brussels is "a natural thing for the partners from the region, for which it was not necessary to convince the leaders of these three countries", adding that "there are frustrations in the region due to slow process.''

A positive decision by the Bulgarian parliament on a compromise proposal for resolving the dispute with Skopje would allow the opening of accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania, after a three-year blockade.

The first political intergovernmental conference between the EU and the two countries would be held before the end of June, but concrete talks with North Macedonia would begin later, after Skopje implements some of the conditions Bulgaria insists on.

Slovenia, with the support of some other member states, has proposed granting candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with Ukraine and Moldova, but there is currently no consensus among member states on the decision, according to European diplomatic sources.

EU officials announce that the meeting with the leaders of the region will also discuss harmonization with the EU foreign policy, energy security and food supply, especially in the light of the war in Ukraine.

"The new enlargement methodology adopted last year did not speed up the process nor it brought economic benefits that the European integration process should bring," the European diplomat said ahead of the meeting, adding that the EU expects information from the Western Balkans about its needs and ''based on which we will decide how to proceed", reported RTS.

“Who is switching off the lights in the north” protest in Mitrovica North tomorrow (Kontakt plus radio)

Kontakt plus radio reported today that the CI Serbian Survival invited all like-minded people to join them at the protest, to be held tomorrow, June 24, in North Mitrovica, on the occasion of signing the energy agreement between the delegations of Belgrade and Pristina.

“To express our protest against the injustice, secret decisions and non-transparency that have caused immeasurable damage to the citizens of northern Kosovo, especially by signing the latest energy agreement that is veiled in secrecy,” Kontakt plus radio reported, citing the statement.

Lazarevic: Citizens from the North disappointed with the agreement - new confirmation of Serbia’s withdrawal (KoSSev, N1)

KoSSev portal Editor in chief, Tatjana Lazarevic, told N1 that the reactions of the Serbian community in Kosovo regarding the energy agreement between Belgrade and Pristina were almost uniform, except for the narrow circles around the Serbian List.

According to Lazarevic, the side that lost the most were the Serbs from the North. She said that the citizens were disappointed because they interpreted the agreement as a confirmation of Serbia’s new withdrawal from Kosovo.

She said that the reactions were almost uniform, except for the narrow circles around the Serbian List.

“The broadest group includes those who dare to say something in public or who will tell you privately, and that is that the side that did not win, the side that loses the most - are the Serbs in the North. The agreement, the two most visible negative effects based on the comments of fellow citizens are the fact that payments for electricity are starting after two decades, but what is much more important and much more serious is the comment that this is a new confirmation of Serbia’s withdrawal, a disappointment I notice among many citizens,” she said.

Lazarevic states that precisely the issue of energy was something that Serbs in the North were most afraid of in terms of “Serbia’s withdrawal”:

“Or rather energy facilities, and in the heart of it all is Valac, and then Gazivode. Those most neuralgic points and the biggest wealth that Serbs in the North see as a part of Serbia, and in connection with which they are now actually commenting that this is also going to the Kosovo system,” Lazarevic stated.

She added that some are commenting that “the continuation of the outflow of Serbian institutions is no surprise.”

As for the comments from Pristina, Lazarevic said that they could be divided into two groups.

“Same as in Belgrade, the government, as expected, praises this move along with all those who support Albin Kurti, and that number is not small, in the sense that sovereignty has been preserved. It is emphasized that Kosovo actually found a solution for a hopeless situation in which it would find itself by the end of the year-as there is not enough electricity, that it was a huge blow to the budget in light of the new world crisis in Ukraine, and that the Kosovo government actually used the last chance to save the institutions - KEK from bankruptcy, and thus save the government,” she said.

Lazarevic added that those familiar with the situation in Kosovo know that the main motive of the Kosovo PM was precisely to start urgently resolving the energy issue.

On the other hand, she said that one has to wonder why Belgrade would be in a hurry, if Kosovo, as a negotiating party, would certainly be in that kind of hopeless situation.

However, she stated that in the previous days it could be heard that Belgrade was also under pressure, primarily from the EU, due to the war in Ukraine, and that the Serbian government was “forced” to reach a new agreement.

Commenting on the text of the document, she said that many things are unclear.

“What we can hear from the Belgrade officials is that there is no retroactive payment for electricity, that a new system is being established. On the other hand, the citizens are ready for the fact that the novelty of the implementation of the energy agreement is the payment of electricity,” Lazarevic said and added that a significant number of reactions come from the Kosovo opposition.

“They, in fact, comment in a similar tone used by the Serbian opposition to comment on the Belgrade side - that it is a matter of betrayal. However, these are completely different conditions, because in this case Albin Kurti is being reminded of what he did as the leader of LVV while they were in opposition - that they were one of the loudest opponents of the agreement in 2015,” Lazarevic said.

“Albin Kurti has raised the bar very high - in the sense that Kosovo’s sovereignty is undeniable, and that Serbia has no business negotiating on, what Pristina views as, Kosovo’s internal affairs and based on which it came to power. In that sense, any kind of compromise is interpreted in a negative context, and the compromise for these Albanians who are criticizing is the fact that he came to a situation to discuss what is a resource of Kosovo, where power plants are seen as the exclusive property of Kosovo.”

Lazarevic pointed out that the fact that no electricity was paid for in the north of Kosovo, in Pristina, but also in central Serbia, was simply interpreted as a fact -that Serbs do not pay for electricity.

“There are also citizens in the north of Kosovo who are not of Serbian nationality. Moreover, I knew of cases where Albanians also connected their business and life activities to the North, because electricity bills were not paid. Illegal, semi-illegal, and even legal businesses have flourished, those that require a large consumption of electricity,” Lazarevic concluded.

International

EU will 'stand by its promises' on Western Balkans enlargement (DW)

Ahead of a leaders' summit in Brussels, German government envoy Manuel Sarrazin tells DW of the geostrategic importance of EU enlargement for the Western Balkans, and how Russia's war has influenced the process.

DW: The European Commission has come out in favor of candidate status for Ukraine and Moldova in record time. How do you view that recommendation with regard to the Western Balkans?

Manuel Sarrazin, Germany's special representative for the Western Balkans: From my point of view, it's good for the countries of the Western Balkans because it shows that the geostrategic importance of EU enlargement is still there and that there is movement in the enlargement process.

DW: Both Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo are still waiting in line. What should be offered to these two vulnerable states?